The Boston Symphony Orchestra first played in China in 1979, when the country was still recovering from the trauma of the Cultural Revolution.

Credit: Boston Symphony Orchestra

BSO Overseas: Orchestra Returns To China

In 1979, China was still recovering from the trauma the Cultural Revolution. That was the backdrop to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s landmark trip to China, during which, the BSO and members of China’s Central Philharmonic performed before an audience of 18,000.

So it was a pretty big deal when the BSO decided to return for an encore 35 years later, as WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen explains.